The shift in the American mood has caught many Democrats from conservative states flat-footed. Following Obama’s January inauguration, these politicians bought the party line that the election gave them a mandate to completely reorganize the United States into something more closely resembling Venezuela, Cuba, or the old Soviet Union. Self-proclaimed Blue Dog Democrats marched in solidarity with the left-wing radicals of their party as they quadrupled the federal deficit and helped enslave future generations to mountains of new US debt. As you might imagine, the public’s evaporating approval of Obama is rubbing off on those Democrats who want their constituents to believe they’re fiscal conservatives. So what’s a Blue Dog Dem to do?

Sen Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Judging from my Congressman and Senators, they’re sitting on the fence until the last possible moment. Yesterday I called the offices of Congressman Marion Berry (D-AR-01), Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR), and Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR). I asked for each of their positions on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA aka “Card Check”) and the Health Care Reform legislation currently making their way through Congress. Their responses were noncommittal and vague, worthless really. Pryor’s office informed me the Senator was waiting to see what came out of committee before making any statement. The young lady I spoke with in Lincoln’s office informed me the Senator had not made a public statement on either of these pieces of legislation. Congressman Berry’s aide with whom I spoke told me Berry was waiting to see what happened with “Card Check” legislation in the Senate before taking a position. The best news I received from any of the three was Berry’s office’s response on the House Democrats’ health care bill. I was told they were reading the “chronically long” bill and wouldn’t be able to take a position until they’d sorted through the 1,018 pages to see what’s inside.

Sen Mark Pryor (D-AR)

At least Berry’s reading the bill. That’s the best I could get from both my Senators and my Representative, all Democrats, on two key pieces of legislation. Even when asked what conditions would need to be met to earn or lose their support, none of the three would step up and give specifics. Best I can tell…they’re not taking a stand, at all. Their sitting on the fence as long as they can in the hopes of correctly judging the dominant political winds at the last possible moment.

To me, such a political strategy demonstrates a lack of conviction. I want elected officials who will stand on principles rather than sit on fences. So I thought I’d ask some of the potential Republican candidates who will challenge Lincoln and Berry next year to see if they’re standing up for their principles or polishing the top rail of this fence as well. I emailed Rick Crawford, Curtis Coleman, and Tom Cox and asked the same questions. Crawford has announced his intent to run for Berry’s seat next year, while Coleman and Cox are interested in unseating Lincoln. Though I haven’t heard back from Cox, Crawford and Coleman quickly responded. Read on and you’ll see these two Republicans who wish to represent you in Washington aren’t fence-sitters. They’re willing to take a stand based on principle. To avoid redundancy and for brevity, I’ll cover Coleman’s response to the Health Care legislation and Crawford’s response to “Card Check.”

Curtis Coleman

I knew Coleman had posted on Obama’s desire for a government health insurance earlier on his website, but that post dealt primarily with the inevitable end of private insurance if Obamacare becomes reality. Today Coleman informed me of a new, more comprehensive post he released on the subject. Here, he blasts Senator Lincoln for cosponsoring the original bill with Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in the Senate during the 109th Congress. He goes on to state the government “will completely control your health care.” Coleman also notes something in his paper that inexplicably escapes virtually every Democratic politician. Though the Dems like to try and sell their Socialized medicine saying the government will pay for everyone’s health care, Coleman emphatically states “Of course the government won’t be paying for your health care–you will be. The government only has the money it takes from you.”

Health care needs to be reformed, not destroyed. And destruction of the finest health care in the world is exactly what this seemingly harmless little “public health insurance option” will do.–Curtis Coleman

Rick Crawford

That doesn’t sound like Coleman has any doubts where he stands, unlike his Democratic rival and her Democratic colleague. Now let’s take a look at what Rick Crawford has to say about the inappropriately named Employee Free Choice Act (aka “Card Check”).

In Crawford’s reply to my questions, there was no hesitation, no equivocation. “I do not support the Employee Free Choice Act, or Card Check. I’m against denying anyone the right to a secret ballot – a critical element of a representative republic such as ours. That’s the fundamental issue – a secret ballot,” he states. This one statement displays a glaring contrast between Rick and his opponent, Marion Berry. While Berry sits on the sidelines, waiting for the battle to be nearly over, waiting to make up his mind, the left-wing zealots pushing this legislation are gaining strength in their efforts to force virtually all American workers to pay extortionists in the form of union organizers. Vocal, steadfast opposition from Berry would show courage and conviction in standing up for his constituents. The worst part is that Berry isn’t hesitating in order to make the right decision, but to make the decision that involves the least amount of political risk. That’s not leadership, it’s self-serving political preservation devoid of the hindrance of any principles or moral base. Crawford, on the other hand, stands tall and clearly states his position based on his belief in what is best for the country and his would-be constituents.

The Republican candidate for Arkansas’ 1st Congressional District described the adverse economic impact Card Check will impose also–especially on low-income Americans. The suffering Americans will endure will come in the form of higher prices and higher unemployment when American companies are forced to 1) raise prices for their products, 2) move their operations offshore, or 3) both. If we force companies and jobs overseas through this legislation, the federal government will see a net decrease in tax revenues as a result. Then where do you think they’ll come to make up their shortfall? That’s right, us! So even though Card Check won’t directly charge us a tax, in the end it will cause tax rates to increase to cover the cash crunch created by the Democratic geniuses who pushed this through.

Crawford closed his response to my questions with the following statement that addresses the history of union thuggery that will almost certainly be encouraged if this bill becomes law.

If pro-union groups are so convinced that a union shop is the best choice for American workers, it ought to be an easy sell. Rather than implement strongarm tactics, let workers enjoy the sanctity of the secret ballot without fear of reprisal. If unions are such a great deal, pro-union groups should have no doubt what the outcome would be. –Rick Crawford

I think we can safely infer from Crawford’s response that he’s not sitting on the fence either.

Unlike their Democratic incumbents, Crawford and Coleman know where they stand on these important issues and they’re not afraid to let the people know. We need real leaders in the Senate and House, real leaders who will stand for what’s right, not just what’s politically expedient. Our Democratic Senators and Representatives are showing themselves to be anything but leaders. They’ve voted too many times as lap dogs for Pelosi and Obama, instead of conservative Blue Dogs. It’s time we had real conservative leaders representing Arkansans’ conservative values.

Contact Berry, Lincoln, and Pryor and let them know if they won’t stand up for Arkansans, there are folks who are willing to send them home when their terms are up. Next year for Berry and Lincoln, 2014 for Pryor.

It’s not the most exciting game and you have to read what the characters are saying, but hey, these are conservative organizations that know how to stretch a buck. The main thing is, it gets the point across that Card Check will strip Americans of their rights to NOT organize and result in fewer jobs. The game not only tells what will happen, but links to documentation that such things have happened in the past. Card Check will just give extra incentives to union bosses to harass and coerce workers who wish to remain free.

Anyone who doesn’t believe unions will use strongarm tactics to force people to fork over their hard-earned wages is sticking their head in the sand. It has happened and it will happen more often if Card Check passes.

Use the link to the right to contact your Senator and let him/her know we don’t want Card Check! The Hill has identified 5 key Democratic Senators who may side with Republicans in a filibuster of the bill. We need more pressure on these five to prevent this travesty from being perpetrated on the American public!

Union membership has been declining for decades and a natural result of that declining membership is a decline in the power held by unions in America. Now that Democrats will control both houses of Congress and the White House, the union bosses are seizing the opportunity to reverse their decades long death spiral. To achieve this goal, they’ve crafted the benevolently named Employee Free Choice Act (aka “Card Check”).

So, what is this bill whose name makes it sound like something everyone in America would embrace?

Currently, in order to unionize workers in a particular establishment, the union must obtain signed authorization cards by 30% of the targeted workers in a company. Once it’s accomplished this, the union files a petition with the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB then oversees an election by secret ballot in which the targeted employees choose whether or not to organize. It’s important to understand that neither union leaders, other employees, nor employers can determine which employees voted for and which voted against organizing. If more than 50% of employees vote to organize, the NLRB will certify the union as the employees’ exclusive collective bargaining representative.

How will this process change if EFCA is allowed to become law?

The secret ballot will disappear. If the union collects signed authorization cards from 50% of the targeted workers, there will be no election. Employees who didn’t sign cards will have no chance to vote, no chance to campaign against organization. Once the signed cards are collected, the NLRB will be required to certify the union and the company will be required to recognize it as the collective bargaining representative of all employees.

According to Newsmax.com, 59% of Americans oppose EFCA. The ARRA News Service reports even some left-leaning newspapers know that EFCA will further weaken the already fragile U.S. economy. But, the following video shows President-elect Barack Hussein Obama’s unequivocal support for eliminating workers’ rights to choose whether or not to unionize their shops by secret ballot.

Most people consider the secret ballot a sacred right, a fundamental right in a democratic society. It affords voters an opportunity to vote their conscience without fear of intimidation by those who oppose their views. Removing the secret ballot places physically weaker employees who don’t want a union in the difficult position of changing their vote to avoid a physical confrontation with bigger, stronger coworkers.

But is this really a concern. I mean, we live in a civilized society right?

Still don’t believe this bill will endanger those who don’t want to unionize? Check out these videos and see if they change your mind.

Nobody is debating the right of workers to organize, but some want to deny the right not to join a union. Amazing isn’t it? But that’s exactly why the unions want to force workers to become members–not to choose, but be forced–through this legislation.

The name sounds harmless, but the Employee Free Choice Act is anything but harmless. If we allow this bill to become law, we are subjecting innocent people (who simply want to work and earn a living to provide for their families) to the violence of strong-arm union bosses who want to strip them of their rights!

Contact your Senators and Representatives and let them know you oppose eliminating the secret ballot and eliminating the right of workers to choose whether or not to hand over control of their lives to union bosses.